Change management under discussion at Deutscher Orchestertag

In 2016 Deutscher Orchestertag (DOT) asked whether young musicians ‘only want to play’. Now in 2017 the annual gathering of German, Austrian and Swiss orchestra managers will address another provocative topic with the theme ‘from now on everything will be different’.

More than 130 delegates will discuss this idea and more at the annual gathering in Berlin, which runs from 5-6 November. Hosted at the Umweltforum convention centre, it is one of the largest networking meetings of its kind.

Specifically, DOT will address the idea of change within the classical music sector. “Everything flows and is thus subject to constant changes, to which we must adapt ourselves and our organisations,” commented DOT managing director Anselm Rose, who added that “change processes need to be shaped.”

He pointed out that change does not always come easily to the sector. “No other industry has justified its resistance to change as successfully as orchestras have. However, many orchestras have long been trying to adapt themselves to current requirements with their musical content, concert formats, marketing strategies, sales and management methods.”

DOT’s goal is to give orchestra managers the knowledge and tools they need to make positive changes – ones that benefit both the organisation and the audience.

Continued Rose: “It is necessary to anticipate changes, develop strategies, initiate processes, improve methods, motivate employees, and, at the same time, be on the cutting edge in the modern world of work and leisure.

“We want to deal with current trends for orchestras as well as with the frame-work conditions for the successful implementation of change processes – namely change management.”

To achieve these goals, this year’s gathering will include sessions on musical content, concert formats, marketing, sales and management methods, complemented by lectures and discussions on advanced training, physical training and entertainment.

For 2017 DOT also has a full portfolio of industry expert exhibitors. These include MusiConsulting, Intermusica, Hearsafe Technologies, Müller-BBM and Only Stage. DOT’s partner organisations are Mannheimer Versicherung AG, Schott Music, More Dimensions, DHL and StillArt.